Most tourists heading out to the American West to explore frontier towns and vast wildernesses stop by parks like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite and Bryce Canyon. But all those caravans are missing one of Utah's best-kept secrets: Capitol Reef National Park.

The spectacular geologic formations that characterize the park are part of the Waterpocket Fold, a wrinkle in the earth created by underlying faults that extends for almost 100 miles, says the National Park Service. The uplifted ridges have been eroded by wind and rain and transformed into cliffs, mazes, canyons and cathedral-like domes.

With such natural beauty, it's a surprise that more people don't come in crowds to visit the park. But the nearest traffic light is 78 miles away, reported National Geographic, and it's Utah's least-visited national park. Strolling alone along the lengthy trails in the park, you might think you're the last human on earth.

Although modern travelers seem to overlook Capitol Reef National Park, our ancient ancestors didn't. Archaic people traveled through the canyons and left petroglyphs etched in the walls, providing evidence of their unique culture that began around 500 CE. Following the Fremont Culture more than a thousand years later, the Mormon pioneers arrived in the area and planted orchards of fruit. Today, the park has around 3,100 fruit and nut trees, making it the largest historic orchards in the National Park System.

In addition to breathtaking scenery and a long history, Capitol Reef offers a number of outdoor activities, from rock climbing to off-road driving, says the Utah Travel Industry. The National Parks Traveler particularly recommends the newly reopened Hickman Bridge Trail, a 2-mile-round-trip that gives hikers views of the Hickman Bridge, the reef, Capitol Dome and the Rim Overlook.